Like Sands Through the Hour Glass.......

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Feb 13, 2003

On Thursday night, February 13, Tennessee State athletic director Teresa Phillips will become the first woman to coach in a men's Division I college basketball game. Perhaps even more importantly, the game will be the first occasion on which a woman has coached a men's team in any major team sport. Unfortunately, this seemingly momentous event has come about only due to the incredibly sad state of affairs at Tennessee State. When the season began, Tennessee State's program and then-head coach Nolan Richardson III were under investigation for possible violations of NCAA recruiting and practice rules. In addition, the team promptly jumped off to a losing record.

On December 25, coach Richardson held a Christmas night practice. When only four players showed for the practice, Richardson blamed the poor attendance on assistant coach Hosea Lewis. The two had an argument, and Richardson later told police that Lewis hit him with a gym bag containing chains used to hold-up a scoreboard. Richardson also stated the Lewis invited him to fight. Richardson told Lewis that he would be right back and then left the gym.

Coach Richardson then, of course, did what any other Division I coach would have done. He went to his car to "get a crow bar." Naturally. Every year a number of assistant coaches are beaten with iron bars for arguing with their head coaches. Perfectly normal.

Fortunately, Richardson did not retrieve the crow bar from his car. Instead, he retrieved the .38 caliber pistol that he just happened to have brought with him onto school property. Luckily for Lewis, assistant coach Christopher Graves happened to see Richardson put the gun in the pocket of his sweatshirt. Graves walked over to Richardson to calm him down, at which point Richardson asked where Lewis was, because he "had something for him."

Graves talked to Richardson until he was able to get Richardson to calm down and leave. Graves then promptly convinced Lewis to drive around with him for forty-five minutes before returning to pick-up Lewis' car. Graves later told police that he was afraid that Richardson would return and wait for Lewis.

Richardson was immediately suspended by athletic director Teresa Phillips. Two weeks later, Richardson resigned.

"I'm pleased to say the situation has ended," said Phillips, "I'm really ready to move forward and look to bring some positive new leadership for Tennessee State men's basketball."

Phillips then immediately hired an interim coach. Of course, she hired ......Hosea Lewis. Yes, the same Hosea Lewis who struck his head coach with a bag full of chains and invited him to fight. Positive new leadership.

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